FRANKFURT (dpa-AFX) - After delays at Frankfurt Airport due to thunderstorms, 26 aircraft were allowed to take off after 11 p.m. on Thursday evening despite the ban on night flights. As the Hessian Ministry of Economics announced on Friday, the last aircraft took off for Goteborg shortly before midnight. In addition, seven aircraft landed after 11 p.m., with the last plane arriving at Frankfurt Airport a few minutes before midnight. Due to heavy thunderstorms at the airport, aircraft handling had been temporarily suspended for safety reasons.

On Wednesday evening, thunderstorms had already led to the air traffic control authorities approving exceptional requests for 46 take-offs after 11.00 pm. 16 aircraft landed after 23:00. Operations had previously had to be suspended for more than an hour on Wednesday evening.

Night flight restrictions apply at Frankfurt Airport between 11.00 pm and 5.00 am. Delayed aircraft scheduled to arrive before 23:00 are allowed to land until 00:00 under certain conditions. Delayed take-offs are also possible until 00.00 a.m., but separate approval is required after a careful case-by-case assessment./lob/DP/mis